Emergency Response Checklist7 Steps to Creating an Actionable Disaster Preparedness Plan

In today’s world, the list of risks and uncertainties is virtually endless, from environmental hazards to man-made disasters and catastrophic events.

You’re never truly ready for a disaster, but you can always be better prepared. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, you should consider these seven steps when developing an effective disaster preparedness plan:

1. Analyze historical data and official research to understand areas of opportunity and inform future decision-making.

Gathering and evaluating data is a major part of strategic planning. Historical analysis provides access to a wealth of information that helps with long-term planning and real-time decision-making. Examine past events from various angles to detect future risks, then identify and close gaps in your plan.

2. Use templates, tool kits and best practices to stay on track and guide your process.

Many moving parts are involved in incident management planning, and developing a custom preparedness plan might feel impossible. Rather than building from scratch, look to leading agencies and organizations for best practices, recommendations and resources. Editable templates and tool kits are an effective baseline and can be tailored to meet the needs of virtually any program.

3. Locate qualified suppliers of critical products and services you’ll need during an emergency response.

It’s crucial to partner with vendors that have done business with the government, as they’ve already met established standards and qualifications. FEMA, municipalities as well as other state and federal agencies are more authoritative than the thousands of unreliable sources you’re likely to find from a general Google query. Identify which of their products and services would help you most during a crisis, and request a historical cost analysis so you can forecast an appropriate budget.

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4. Connect with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and volunteer services to find funding and humanitarian support.

When disaster strikes, it’s important to know which organizations can provide critical resources and support. Knowing who you can turn to when you need volunteers, donated goods, grants or mutual aid can be the difference between life and death, so take time to research and vet a list of reputable sources.

5. Identify and use emerging technologies to be more efficient during a crisis.

Technology plays an increasingly important role in improving crisis management departments across the country. Not only does tech help teams analyze events and coordinate their activities, it can also expedite humanitarian relief efforts.

Whether it’s new ways to clean up hazardous materials or innovative post-disaster communications hardware, it’s imperative to stay abreast of the latest technology, equipment and procedures so that when the time comes you can mobilize response efforts quickly and efficiently.

6. Revisit your plan regularly, identify areas of improvement and refine your strategies.

The world is constantly changing and evolving. As new disasters emerge, valuable lessons are learned, best practices are updated and innovative products and services rise up to meet challenges and demands.

The same goes for your emergency response plan. Think of it as an evergreen “living” document – it should never sit on a shelf and collect dust. Without regularly scheduled updates and reviews, you risk overlooking holes in your disaster preparedness strategy.

7. Adopt a real-time platform that aggregates, filters and prioritizes urgent emergency relief data and resources.

Vetting suppliers, requesting quotes and researching emerging technologies is a time- and labor-intensive process – and there’s no guarantee that the information you source on your own accord will be reliable or up-to-date. Instead, use a platform that compiles credible disaster response and relief information into a single, easy-to-use repository. Not only does this ensure data accuracy, it also saves valuable time and resources.

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